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How to make see-through text in GIMP 2.8

This is a tutorial on how you can create text with a photo or illustration as the background. It can also be used to empower the message of a photo with a message. I use GIMP 2.8.4 for Mac but it will work just as good with an older version of the software on Windows or Mac. The effect takes just a few minutes and the result can be used for many different results.

Create a new layer with fill image of the color you want as foreground color.

Create a new layer

Select text tool and create your text layer, I name this layer “bbq” for simplicity.

Create text layer

Right click “bbq” layer and chose “Alpha to selection”

If your text is spread out you can grow your selection by a few pixels to get better shapes using Select > grow

Select the colored layer and chose Edit > Clear

Remove the layer holding the text and your background image and we’re done!

Clear away what is selected

If your background image is of many colors you can add a border to the text to isolate the texture from the color. To do this, after step 6, with the selection of the text still active and the layer with the colored background chosen Select > Border

Border can be added to selection

With the selection of a border active, use your paint bucket to fill the border with a color of your choice. Don’t forget to check “Fill whole section” in the tool options.